Stepparents

Stepparents’ Questions and Answers

As the blended family becomes more prevalent, we findstepparents giving each other advice. This is a page for stepparents and professionals toanswer questions.

Question:

To Whom it may concern:

I’ve been with a man for the past year and a half and he has a two year old son. The son accepts me fine but the ex-girlfriend does not. She will not let me kiss his son good-bye or when I drop him off she yanks him from my arms. She has also taught her son to tell me I am bad or a bitch.

Do you have any advice for me?

I love this little boy to death, but I don’t want him to start hating me because of things his mother says about me. We only see him once during the week and every other weekend so I only have that little time to show him that I love him. She is one of the biggest influences in his life, what can I do?

MT

Answer 1:

When he starts to call you names, pick him up and twirl him around,tickle him, or do something playful where you both laugh. He doesn’tknow what bitch or hate mean. He is like a parrot at this age. Don’t actshocked, act tickled.

Rather than wait for the door, tell him good-bye in the car or otherprivate place with a hug, kiss, and "I love you," then walk him to hismother so she can not take him from your arms. He will quite naturallybe more interested in hugging and paying attention to his mom when hegets home so say your good-byes in another private place.

Leave quickly when you get him home. Don’t give her time to be ugly orspiteful in front of him. And realize you will have a hard time competing at this time with a mom he has not seen in a day or so, sodon’t try.

Children love someone who smiles, so keep smiling at him, no matter whathappens with his mom. And… get down on his level when you play. Hug him often and thenlethim go immediately if that is his desire. Children love a quick hug thenback to play. Read to him. Hold him in your lap and teach him to love books. This is agreat way to get kids to sleep.

Leave the discipline to his dad when you can–you be the playmate andhis mother will have a really hard time stopping a relationship fromforming at this age.

I agree with the above answer. But I would like to stress the part about giving mom as little time as possible to act negatively in front of the child. Even let the son walk the extra few steps to his mom while you concern yourself with putting down clothes and the like. Leave without speaking to either of them if she can not be pleasant.

Note: The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of CyberParent. They are not intended to take the place of advice of a health professional whose advice you might need to seek.

Large Play Mats roll-up for storage between rainy days or stepkids’ visits.

Note: The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of CyberParent. They are not intended to take the place of advice of a health professional whose advice you might need to seek.